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Power Rankings: The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges

By Brandon Raper

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 13: Justin Thomas of the United States watches his tee shot on the 2nd hole during round two of the 2017 CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur on October 13, 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 13: Justin Thomas of the United States watches his tee shot on the 2nd hole during round two of the 2017 CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur on October 13, 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images) /
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Patrick Reed CJ Cup Power Rankings
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 23: Patrick Reed of the United States plays his shot from the third tee during the third round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 23, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Patrick Reed is back in action after an outstanding finish to the 2016-17 season. He had four top-20 finishes in his last five starts – sure, we’re being a bit generous with the 30-player TOUR Championship – and eight in his last 11. He even reprised his role as “Captain America” in the Presidents Cup, going 3-1-1 along the way, losing only his meaningless Sunday singles match, 1-down, to Louis Oosthuizen.

Will that momentum carry over to the new season, after a two-week break? Reed has enjoyed some success in Asia in his career, finishing in the top ten in both the CIMB Classic and WGC-HSBC Champions two seasons ago.

Most importantly, Reed posted a career season on the greens in 2016-17. Just once before in his career had Reed finished a year inside the top-20 in strokes gained putting, but he rocketed up to a .511 strokes gained average, good for seventh on TOUR. That went a long way to offset his 62.17% clip on greens in regulation, good for just 173rd on TOUR.

Reed’s talent alone makes him a threat anywhere he plays. He’s got as much potential for a blow-up week in him as he does to run away with a tournament. I’m looking for more of the latter out of Reed as he continues to grow into the player he’s always told us he could be.

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